Hobbs Set to Celebrate the 7th Annual Tuff Hedeman Championship Bull Riding

HOBBS, N.M. - Jan. 6, 2016 - PRLog -- 4-time World Champion bull rider and Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer, Tuff Hedeman, is readying the Lea County Event Center for the No. 1 and No. 2 bull riders in the world, Sage Kimzey (Strong City, Okla.) and Cody Teel (Kountze, Tex.) as they head to Hobbs to face the field of the top 24 CBR contenders in the 7^th Annual Tuff Hedeman Championship Bull Riding as they compete for the lion’s share of a $30,000 purse.

This year’s event will include twelve former National Finals Rodeo qualifiers battling the champs including last year’s champion and CBR Finals Average winner, Brennon Eldred of Sulphur, Okla., and three time NFR qualifier Chandler Bownds from Lubbock, Tex.  The CBR Road to Cheyenne televised Tour event pits the industry’s elite riders against the best bulls in a three round tournament style format featuring barrel man Cody Sosebee, and over 60 hand-picked bucking bulls who will be competing alongside the bull riders for an additional $45,000 in prize monies.

CBR Ambassador, chute boss and event commander Tuff Hedeman is one of the most recognizable cowboys in the history of rodeo. In recent years he has made a name for himself in the production of great bull riding events and on January 23th he is bringing the Hobbs Tuff Hedeman Championship Challenge back to New Mexico.

“Organizing the Hobbs bull riding is like coming home”, said the 4 time World Champion bull rider who competed in New Mexico junior rodeo associations as well as high schooled rodeo representing New Mexico.  “I always look forward to this event, the fans, the sponsors and the whole Lea County community gets behind it and it’s a great way to give back to the people of New Mexico who have supported me during my whole career”, said Hedeman, the Ambassador of Championship Bull Riding.

This year’s event is the 2^nd stop in 2016  on the Championship Bull Riding (CBR) Road to Cheyenne Tour. The Bull riding will be held at the Lea County Event Center. Doors open at 6:00 and action gets underway at 7:30 p.m. A stick-bull riding competition for the kids under 7 will be held at 6:00 prior to the event with the finals during intermission. The young stick-bull riders will show us their best imitation of their favorite bull rider as they buck out of miniature chutes with the winner taking home the grand prize, a Tuff Hedeman Championship Belt Buckle. Enter the stick-bull by emailing hobbsbullriding@aol.com for more information, limited contestants being accepted.

There are no guarantees in bull riding; the only way for cowboys to earn a paycheck is to ride better than the rest of the 24-man field.  The field of competition which starts with 24 riders, then 12 and finally 4 in the Shoot Out where they will battle for   $30,000.

 In addition to lucrative prize money, bull riders accumulate points which qualify them for the World Finals, part of the legendary Cheyenne Frontier Days celebration held in Wyoming next July. At the end of the World Finals, the contestant who has the most points will be crowned the world champion and receive a $100,000 bonus.

 The Hobbs event will also feature the “other side of the ride”, CBR’s Million Dollar Bull Team Challenge. Bull owners from all around the country will bring three bulls that are featured during the first two rounds of competition. The bulls are competing for points based on their performance in the arena. Additionally, the time the bull rider stays on is added to the bull’s score. At the end of the night, the owner with the three highest-scoring bulls will receive $25,000 of the $45,000 purse.

CBR has become known for their action-packed performances that keep fans on the edge of their seats. That is largely due to the influence of four-time world champion bull rider Tuff Hedeman who coordinates every element and attends to the smallest details. From having great bulls matched up with super star riders, to upbeat music and enthusiastic fans.There is something for everyone at the Hobbs Tuff Hedeman Championship Bull Riding.

Activities begin on Friday, Jan. 22 with a meet and greet at Pacific Rim from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.  There will be a stick-bull riding at 6:00 prior to event. The after party will continue at Pacific Rim.

Advance tickets are available at Lea County Events Center 5101 N. Lovington, Hwy, Hobbs, selectaseathobbs.com or 806.770.2000 . Prices start at $15 with a variety of options available. WEBSITE:  Leacounty.net. Selectaseathobbs.com or cbrbull.com